United States Department of Agriculture 

[ylarketing and Regulatory Programs 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Veterinary Services 

V S Guidanc e 13405.1 Date 07/05/2012 

Importation of Horses from Mexico using Temporary APHIS-Approved and -Operated 

Quarantine Facilities at Land Border Ports 

1. Purpose and Background 

This document is intended to clarify the conditions under which horses from Mexico may 

be imported into the United States, using temporary quarantine facilities approved and 

operated by Veterinary Services (VS). These measures are necessary to re-estabiish 

the importation of horses from Mexico into the United States through land border ports 

that have been closed (or otherwise adversely affected) by security-related issues, while 

facilities that meet standards for permanent private quarantines or temporary 

quarantines for special events are not avaiiabie. This document provides an interim 

process untii VS finds a permanent solution. 

This guidance document represents the Agency's position on this topic. It does not 

create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not bind the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture (USDA) or the public. The information it contains may be made available 

to the public. While this document provides guidance for users outside VS, VS 

employees may not deviate from the directions provided herein without appropriate 

justification and supervisory concurrence. 

2. Document Status 

Valid untilJuly 5, 2015. 

3. Reason for Reissuance 

Not applicable. This is a new guidance document. 

4. Authority and References 

A. Authorities (Code of Federal Regulations): 

7 CFR 371.4 

9 CFR 93.306 

9 CFR 93.308 

9 CFR 93.313 

9 CFR 93.323 

9 CFR 93.324 

B. References: 

VS Memorandum 591.72, "Approval of U.S. Permanent Privately Owned Equine 

Quarantine Facilities and Checklist for Permanent Privately Owned Quarantine 

Facilities," (9/14/11) 

VS Memorandum 591.58, "Testing of Equidae for lmport"(8/22/05) 
United States Department of Agriculture 

fylarkefing and Regulatory Programs 

Animal and Piant Health Inspection Service 

Veterinary Services 

V S Guidanc e 13405.1 Date 07/05/2012 

C. Definitions 

In this document, the word "horses" includes horses, doni^eys, mules, asses, zebras, 

and other Equidae. 

5. Audience 

VS employees, other affected Federal and State agencies, and affected members ofthe 

public. 

6. Guidance 

A. General 

1) Any facility approved under this guidance document must be leased from VS or 

otherwise be under direct VS supervision, and wiil be staffed with VS personnel 

forthe quarantine periods involved. 

2) Only horses that qualify for a 3-day quarantine period are eligible for importation 

under this guidance document. Horses required to be quarantined for longer 

periods as a condition of importation must be imported through permanent 

quarantine facilities. 

3) An import permit for each shipment of horses imported under this guidance 

document must be obtained in advance from the VS National Center for Import 

and Export (NCIE), Riverdale, MD 20737. Applications are available by calling 

(301) 851-3300, menu option 2 (live animals), or on the Internet at 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/anima! heajth/permits/. 

4) NC!E will coordinate with the VS Area Office on the availability of reservation 

space at the temporary quarantine facility and the availability of VS personnel to 

conduct the necessary inspections and treatments. 

5) At least 72 hours before arrival of a permitted shipment of horses, importers must 

confirm the time of arrival with VS port personnel at the port of entry listed on the 

import permit. 

6) Horses from Mexico imported under this guidance document must be 

quarantined on an "all-in/a!l-out" basis for release purposes. That is, all horses 

that enter the quarantine facility at the same time are considered one lot, and 

none may be released from quarantine until all horses in the lot have satisfied 

release requirements. 

7) Importers should contact exporters in Mexico to request that horses be tested in 

Mexico for equine infectious anemia (EIA), piroplasmosis, glanders, and dourine 

before export, and be inspected for the presence of any ectoparasites. 
United Slates Department of Agricuiture 

Marketing and Regulatory Programs 

Animal and Piant Health Inspection Service 

Veterinary Services 

V S Guidanc e 13405.1 Date 07/05/2012 

8) All horses in any lot that test positive in the United States for EIA, piroplasmosis, 

dourine, or glanders will be disposed of in accordance with VS Memorandum 

591.58. 

B. Horse Quarantine Facility Approval 

1) if the facility is not used for a period exceeding 6 months, it must be re-inspected 

and re-authorized by VS for subsequent quarantines. 

2) Only VS or authorized personnel may enter the facility or handle the horses. 

3) A contingency plan for horses that become ili or die during quarantine must be 

reviewed and approved by NCIE. The plan should include the names of any 

private horse practitioners who may attend sick horses at the quarantine facility. 

The plan should also identify alternative treatment facilities with adequate 

isolation capacity that may be used during quarantine, and should stipulate an 

acceptable procedure for the depopulation of individual horses or an entire 

consignment due to a disease outbreak. 

4) To receive VS approval for use under this guidance document, the quarantine 

facility must meet the following construction and other criteria: 

a. The facility must be located within 5 miles of the nearest border crossing. 

b. Facilities with solid walls and vector-proof screening should be located a 

minimum of 200 yards from other containment structures for horses. Facilities 

without solid walls and vector-proof screening must be located at least 1 mile 

from any premises with horses in the United States. 

c. The facility may not be located in any area known to be infested with 

Rhipicephalus ticks. 

d. The facility must be surrounded by a lockable fence of sufficient height to 

prevent entry or exit of any animals susceptible to or capable of vectoring any 

disease of horses, with a single point of entry or exit that remains locked or 

guarded at all times when APHIS personnel are not present. 

e. The fence must be posted with bilingual signs (English and Spanish) along 

each edge ofthe perimeter indicating that a USDA quarantine is in progress 

and that no unauthorized visitors are allowed. 

f. There must be a minimum 10-foot zone without vegetation outside the horse 

quarantine facility. 

g. The facility must have enough food and water for the horses in any 

consignment, and have adequate emergency supplies of food and water 

available. 
United States Department of Agriculture 

tvlarketing and Regulatory Programs 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Veterinary Services 

V S Guidanc e 13405.1 Date 07/05/2012 

h. The facility must provide adequate shelter from the elements for all horses 

quarantined there. 

i. Feed and bedding must be placed in vermin-proof storage. 

j. Each horse must be isolated in a separate pen or stall, with adequate space 

for movement. Each pen or stall must have an easily accessible record card 

identifying the individual animal. A template record card is included with this 

guidance document. 

k. Separate isolation areas must be provided for any horses that become il! or 

are found to have fevers (temperatures exceeding 101.5°F) that do not 

resolve during quarantine. 

I. The facility must have areas where quarantined horses can be restrained and 

safeiy inspected, including areas witli stocks used for scratching horses for 

ticks and spraying with an acaricide. 

m. The facility must have adequate storage for any wastes that may be retained 

until the horses are released from quarantine. After quarantine is complete, 

the material may be disposed of as domestic horse waste. Alternatively, 

waste may be disposed of as regulated garbage before quarantine is 

complete. 

C. import procedures 

1) The facility must be cleaned and disinfected before the first use and after each 

quarantine on a per-consignment basis. 

2) Before export, the Secretana de Agricultura, Ganaderia, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca 

y Alimentacion (SAGARPA) will seal any conveyances containing horses to be 

imported under this guidance document, and note the seal number on the health 

certificate. 

3) The exporter/broker wil! call VS at a designated number with an estimated time 

the shipment will arrive at the internationai border. 

4) VS personnel will confirm the arrangements made for the shipment's crossing 

with local Customs and Border Protection personnel. 

5) VS will escort the sealed shipment conveyance to the approved quarantine 

facility and unseal the trailer. 

6) On arrival, horses will be offloaded and inspected. VS personnel will draw blood 

from each horse for import testing and submit the samples to the National 

Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) as described in VS Memorandum 591.58. 

Sample information should be entered into the VS Process Streamlining system 

as part ofthe importation record. 
United States Department of Agriculture 

fylarketlng and Regulatory Programs 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Veterinary Services 

VS Guidance 13405.1 Date 07/05/2012 

7) Each horse will be scratched for ticks on arrival. If animals are negative for ticks, 

they will be sprayed with an acaricide at that time. Horses with ticks may either 

be held for an additional 10 days and must re-test negative after that time for 

piroplasmosis, or will be refused entry as a lot and must return to Mexico or be 

disposed of in accordance with VS Memorandum 591.58. [Note: if horses are 

found to have ticks, the horses and trailer will be sprayed with an acaricide 

before returning to Mexico.] 

8) All horses will have temperatures taken by VS personnel on arrival. 

Temperatures for each horse must be checked daiiy. All temperatures must be 

recorded on the individual record cards. 

9) To be released, horses must have 2 normal temperature readings during the 24 

hours before release (these readings must be at least 6 hours apart). Normal 

temperature is considered 101.5°F or less. 

10) If nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are administered, a 24-hour 

washout period after the last NSAID administration must occur before normal 

temperatures for release can be recorded. 

11) Horses must remain in quarantine and be observed for clinical evidence of 

disease for a minimum of 42 hours. 

12) Horses without evidence of communicable disease and which are free of ticks 

niay be released from quarantine after 42 hours if negative laboratory results 

have been received from NVSL for EIA, piroplasmosis, dourine, and glanders, 

and 2 normal temperatures have been recorded. 

7. Inquiries 

For inquiries, please call the Veterinary Services Texas Area Office at (701) 250-

4210/4211 orthe NCIE at (301) 851-3300, menu option 2 (live animals). 

John R. Clifford 

Deputy Administrator 
VS Guidance 

United States Department of Agriculture 

Marketing and Regulatory Programs 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Veterinary Services 

13405.1 Date 07/05/2012 

Stall Record Card 

Horse ID# Morse Name 

Barn# Broker/Agent 

Date of Arrival Airline 

Condition on Arrival 

Special Instructions 

Neqative for Ectoparasites Sprayed with Acetic Acid and Atro ban 

Date Temp Water- Grain Hay Manure Comments Initials 

A M 

0 1 2 3 4 

n 1/? all n all 

none normal 

A M 5 6 7 8 9 n 1/? all n all diarrhea 

P M 

0 1 2 3 4 

n M7 all n 1/? all 

none normal 

P M 5 6 7 8 9 n M7 all n 1/? all diarrhea 

A M 

0 1 2 3 4 

n V7 ail 0 all 

none normal 

A M 5 6 7 8 9 n V7 ail 0 all diarrhea 

P M 

0 1 2 3 4 

0 V? alt n v? all 

none normal 

P M 5 6 7 8 9 0 V? alt n v? all diarrhea 

A M 

0 1 2 3 4 

0 M? Rl! n 1/? all 

none normal 

A M 5 6 7 8 9 0 M? Rl! n 1/? all diarrhea 

P M 

0 1 2 3 4 

0 V7 all 0 V7 all 

none normal 

P M 5 6 7 8 9 0 V7 all 0 V7 all diarrhea 

A M 

0 1 2 3 4 

0 V7 alt n V7 all 

none normal 

A M 5 6 7 8 9 0 V7 alt n V7 all diarrhea 
United States Department of Agriculture 

Marketing and Regulatory Programs 

Animal and Plant Health inspection Service 

Veterinary Services 

VS Guidance 13405.1 Date 07/05/2012 

P M 

0 1 2 3 4 

n V7 Rll 0 V7 ali 

none normal 

P M 5 6 7 8 9 n V7 Rll 0 V7 ali diarrhea